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CAPTAIN JERRY Z. BROWN.

THE
VIRGINIA CAMPAIGN.

ON this and the preceding page,
and on page 748, We engrave illustrations of recent events in the Virginia
Campaign.

An incident of unusual interest,
though not important in its military bearings, was the capture of one of the
rebel forts in front of Petersburg on the night of October 27, of which we give
an illustration on this page, together with a portrait of Captain J. Z. BROWN,
who took a prominent part in the assault. The Second and Third Divisions of the
Second Corps, under EGAN and MOTT, were engaged in the movement against the
Southside Railroad, and only MILE'S Division was left to guard the intrenchments
of the Second Corps. In the course of the day the enemy in front had also been
greatly weakened to resist our columns moving on his right flank. In the evening
MILES ordered a reconnoissance to discover the force in his immediate front. For
this purpose one hundred volunteers were solicited from the One Hundred and
Forty-eighth Pennsylvania Volunteers. Besides Captain BROWN, four officers also
volunteered : Lieutenants P. D. SPANGLE, ALEXANDER GIBB, J. F. BENNER, and
Captain H. D. PRICE. Forming in a trench leading from our picket line to the
rebel fort in front, and armed with Spencer's seven shooters, they advanced over
a space of two hundred and fifty yards against the fort, which was garrisoned by
the Forty-sixth Virginia. The garrison was surprised, and our men advancing in
front and on both flanks entered, and after a sharp skirmish took possession,
capturing four commissioned officers, among whom was a nephew of Governor HENRY
A. WISE. Captain PRICE was the first to enter the fort and was immediately
afterward shot. We regret very much that it is impossible for us to give a
portrait of Captain PRICE, a gallant officer, who entered the service originally
as a private, and rose step by step from a Sergeant to First Lieutenant, and
finally to a Captain's rank. He was a son of the Reverend Mr. PRICE, an
Episcopal clergyman of Pottstown, Pennsylvania. The fort captured was in our
possession half an hour when it was abandoned, on the arrival of fresh troops
from other portions of the rebel line. It is impossible to say what advantages
might have been gained by our troops if there had been a strong force on the
ground ready to support and follow up this daring and successful assault.

The illustrations on page 748
relate to the operations of the Second and Fifth Corps, October 27. It will be
remembered that in the advance against the enemy's right the Ninth Corps served
as a pivot, the Fifth and Second taking more circuitous routes to the left. The
Second Corps starting at half past 3 A.M., from a point in the vicinity of the
Fifth Corps on the Weldon Road, advanced along the Vaughan Road, and crossing
Hatcher's Run, struck for the Boydton plank road, up which they advanced with
the intention of turning the enemy's extreme right. The sketch which we engrave
of Armstrong's Mills shows the rebel works taken by the Second Corps in the
morning. These works were on Hatcher's Run. It was at this point that the Fifth
Corps came up, when the Second advanced, as already stated, toward the Boydton
Road. The Fifth were to advance up the Run and connect with the right of the
Second, but failing to do so on account of an imperfect knowledge of the
country, a gap was left between the two columns, which, although it led to no
serious reverse, yet gave the ene-

my so decided an advantage as to
frustrate the main design of the movement. General CRAWFORD, although he failed
to connect with the Second Corps, succeeded in capturing two or three hundred
prisoners, including four officers, who were during the night conducted to the
rear. This was difficult to accomplish, as the night was very dark, and the way
led through dense woods and undergrowth, and the enemy, moreover, was in close
proximity. Not a prisoner escaped, orders having been given to shoot the first
man who stepped out of rank. The escape of a single man to the enemy would have
resulted in their becoming acquainted with our movements. General CRAWFORD
headed the column in person, picking his way along the bewildering roads by
means of a compass.

We can not dismiss the operations
on the left without alluding to the brilliant conduct of General EGAN'S division
of the Second Corps. To understand the operations of this corps we must remember
that it left the Vaughan Road before crossing Hatcher's Run, passing over to the
Duncur Road, further west. Crossing on this road southward, it then advanced
westward, and striking the Boydton Road again turned north up that road toward
the Run. EGAN, who was in the advance, was about to cross, having already
captured a line of works on the south bank, when MOTT'S Division, at his right,
was attacked and pushed back. This left EGAN'S Division entirely exposed in that
direction. His left was protected by GREGG'S cavalry. He altered his line,
forming a square, and thus protecting flank and rear

stood the brunt of three
successive charges. These assaults were not only repulsed with severe loss to
the enemy, but each repulse was followed by a counter charge. EGAN succeeded in
capturing nearly a thousand prisoners. MOTT'S Division was reformed, and also
captured several hundred prisoners.

Turning now to page 740, we have
there three illustrations which relate to operations north of the James. One of
these is a view of the Confederate iron-clads on the James River below Chaffin's
Bluff, on the left of BUTLER'S army. Two miles below the Bluff, at the Boulare
House and at Signal Hill, two Federal batteries have lately been posted. On the
22d of October a sharp artillery duel took place between these and the rebel
gun-boats, the latter consisting of the Virginia, Richmond, Fredericksburg,
Hampton, and Drewry. The Drewry was struck by a shell, which blew up a
gun-carriage and wounded five men. The Fredericksburg had her smoke-stack
destroyed and six men wounded. The gun-boats finally retired out of range.

The remaining sketches on the
page relate to the movement of BUTLER'S army on the 27th, and especially to the
operations of the Tenth Corps on and beyond the Darbytown Road. The forenoon was
occupied in skirmishing. At noon the advance was ordered, and the enemy was
driven inside of his intrenchments, from which he kept up a severe fire all
along the line. Our men lay up close to the enemy's works and returned his fire,
but without much effect, while suffering many casualties themselves. The First
Connecticut Battery, Captain CLINTON, replied to a battery of the enemy's by
shelling the woods and the rebel works in front. The action is represented in
the sketch as it appeared from the Johnson House, from the windows of which
General BUTLER and his staff witnessed the battle. This group of officers is
given in another sketch on the same page.

AN APPEAL.

IT would not cost you much, dear,
To linger in the shade,

While our gay companions wander

Up and down the woodland glade :
Let the red fern droop around us,

And the dead leaves flutter down,
Our hearts are fresh and green, dear,

Though the forest's scorch'd and
brown.

It would not cost you much, dear,

To let me see your hand
Ungloved—though well I know it

For the fairest in the land : And
those dainty little fingers

For an instant might I hold;
It would not cost you much, dear;

To me, 'twere gain untold !

It would not cost you much, dear,
To hear me whisper low

A secret I discovered

Not quite a week ago.

Would you promise, having told
you, That I never need repent?

Ah ! you guess it! No reply ?

But your silence gives Consent!

CAPTURE OF REBEL FORT IN FRONT OF PETERSBURG BY THE
ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY-EIGHTH PENNSYLVANIA, OCTOBER 27, 1864.-[SKETCHED BY A. W.
WARREN.]

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